Career Advancement in a Family-Owned French Construction Firm Under Changing Labor Legislation and Market Demand, 1946-1985

Abstract

Personnel data from a small French construction firm's archives were followed up for 1946-1985 to examine family firm employment practices in historical perspective. The firm had limited scope to favor national origin, seniority, or kinship; kin of management were not paid more than nonkin. Event history analysis reveals macroeconomic context and individual qualification as the main variables explaining wage-level changes. The need to respond to market conditions and maintain good labor relations favored skill over seniority and kinship. Ultimately, however, familystyle managerial practices failed to link wages to performance, compromising financial stability and contributing to the firm's demise.